Campbell came two weeks early, which is probably a good thing, given her size, but we weren’t expecting her, and it threw off our carefully laid plans.
Royal juts his chin and waves his hand. “Don’t even sweat it. I’ll be around as much as you need.”
I keep forgetting that he was made a junior partner last month, one of their youngest in the history of the firm. His boss, Richard Madsen, was a friend of one of Royal’s old law professors. Hired him fresh out of law school.
Dad was disappointed that he didn’t want to work at Rosewood and Rosewood, but he understood and respected the fact that Royal was called in a different direction.
Besides, it’s nice to get out of Rixton Falls.
The fresh start did us both good.
And it was too depressing to watch over half the town lose everything they had because of Brooks Abbott’s scheming ways. Dad and Derek wanted to take the case on, but it would’ve been a conflict of interest, so they stepped back, and we all watched as the Abbotts lost everything they ever had. Apparently the scheming started with Brooks’ now-deceased father, and the judge ordered Brenda to liquidate everything they had shortly before she left town for good.
It still wasn’t enough to cover everything those poor folks lost. Brooks is spending decades behind bars now. And if he’s lucky, he’ll be out in time to meet his first grandchild. Last I knew, Afton was raising their daughter in the basement apartment of her family’s home in Glidden.
Royal and I live in a sleepy little town now, Crestwood, an hour east of Rixton Falls. When we arrived, no one knew our names or our stories. We settled in, made friends with our new colleagues and neighbors, and left the past behind.
We have a beautiful life together, and now our little family is complete with Campbell. My heart is so full, and just when I think I’m all out of love to give, I look into my daughter’s sweet eyes and my chest bursts with a powerful, unconditional love.
“She’s gorgeous already.” Royal kisses the top of Campbell’s head. “Just like her mother.”
We expected her to come out with tufts of dark hair, like Beckett did, but it’s looking like she just might be a blonde, like her Aunt Daphne and her cousin, Haven.
“Your parents are on their way,” my husband says. “And I’ve called your sisters. They would like you to FaceTime them as soon as you’re feeling up to it.”
“Have you sent pictures?”
“Of course. About fifty so far.”
I laugh. “And Derek? When’s he coming?”
“He was going to drop Haven off at school and head over. He should be here in a couple of hours.”
“How’s everyone doing?” Our nurse comes in, beaming from ear to ear. She’s definitely a morning person who loves her job, and I can’t complain about that.
“Doing well,” I say. “Doing very well.”
Beckett reaches gingerly for the top of his sister’s head, petting her with soft, slow strokes. Royal and I exchange looks and my eyes water. It’s moments like these that I wish I had my camera ready. Instead, I’ll have to capture this and store the memory in my heart for a nostalgic rainy day.
Or a day when they’re tearing each other’s hair out and driving Royal and me crazy.
We’ll always have this moment.
“I’m going to love her forever,” Beckett says, placing his chubby cheek against her forehead. He stares up at me with Royal’s dark blue eyes, and I blink away the wetness that clouds my vision of my sweet angels.
Tomorrow morning, Campbell and I will get to go home. Royal will pick us up, and I’m sure he’ll drive ten miles per hour under the speed limit the entire way, with his hands at ten and two.
And when we get inside, we’ll introduce Campbell to our yellow lab, which Beckett named Marfa last year. He was trying to say Martha, like his favorite cartoon dog, but he couldn’t pronounce the ‘th,’ and it was too cute to fix.
After she meets her four-legged friend, we’ll show her to her yellow room. Royal insisted on a neutral nursery, just like he did with Beckett. We never knew what we were having either time, which killed the planner part of me, but I did it for him, because life rarely offers opportunities for good surprises.
“Mama, I’m hungry.” Beckett rubs his tummy and gives me sad eyes.
“I’ll take him to the food court. Come on, buddy.” Royal helps him off the bed and takes his little hand. “We’ll be back soon. Let’s let the girls get their beauty rest.”
My husband brings his hand to his mouth and blows me a kiss. Beckett copies. I blow one back to the boys I love more than anything in this whole wide world, and then I glance down at my daughter one more time.